Best Small Cruise Ship Lines: World's Best 2020

Table Of Content

• Small Cruise Yachts
• Grand Princess
• UnCruise Adventures: Wilderness Legacy
• What Readers Loved
• Aranui Cruises introduces 'Tiki Club' Loyalty Program to celebrate 40th Anniversary
• Cruise News Recap: Carnival Tampering, Dining Changes, Evacuation
• No. 2: Royal Clipper - Star Clippers
• Royal Clipper named Best Small Cruise Ship

Book hotels confidently using our AAA Diamond Designations and verified reviews. Essentially floating boutique hotels, they make romance easy, which is why they are one of our best cruise lines for couples. Read on to discover the best small cruise lines you should consider for your next cruise. USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original, unbiased and experiential travel coverage of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world. Viking Octantis spends part of the year in Antarctica and the rest of the year cruising the Great Lakes and Canada, with a handful of repositioning cruises in between.

Small Cruise Yachts

With a fleet of seven, Oceania’s largest ships hold up to 1,250 - but guests never felt they lacked space or the personal touch from staff. Europe's Baltic region is most attractive for the opportunities to visit Russia and Scandinavia (Norway, Sweden, Finland). Among the world's most popular destinations here are Norwegian Fjords and St Petersburg. The UK (British Isles) itineraries visit ports in England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland.

Grand Princess

Read on to see what other readers had to say — and which other companies made this year's list.

UnCruise Adventures: Wilderness Legacy

He is the founding editor of Popular Cruising, producer of the successful Popular Cruising YouTube channel and Cruise Editor for TravelAge West. The 600-passenger Seabourn Ovation, sister ship to Seabourn Encore, attracts passengers with its inclusive cruise fares that even include unlimited caviar. Newcomer Ocean Victory is large for a small cruise ship, which allows it to offer more on its Alaska expeditions. Landings and Zodiac safaris are included on Antarctica cruises, but excursions are not included on other itineraries.

What Readers Loved

Metropolitan Touring's Galapagos ships are larger compared to most of the yachts deployed in this region. Unlike many other small cruise lines, Azamara’s all-inclusive package includes alcoholic beverages and unlimited self-service laundry. Explore the Antarctic, Niagara and the Great Lakes, or Panama and Scenic South America on one of its expedition cruises. These adventure cruises allow you to get up close to witness the nature and wildlife of your destination.

The best part is that all of the cabins on this ship have a view, with some including a private veranda. Other features include a lounge and a sun deck to relax throughout your voyage. The rest of fleet comprises eight small vessels, including the 71-passenger flagship Variety Voyager and masted Panorama and Panorama II which cater for 49. The ship sails destination-intensive itineraries predominantly in the Caribbean, Adriatic and Middle East.

If you're like me and find that bigger isn't always better, this list is for you. Here are 18 of the world's best ocean-going small cruise ships, both older and new. Each carries fewer than 400 passengers and all are ideal for your next intimately sized travel adventure. Typically thought of as a midsize-ship line, Viking took top honors in this category, too, thanks to its twin ships Viking Polaris and Viking Octantis. The expedition vessels, both of which have 189 cabins, are built for out-there adventures, whether on the waters of the Great Lakes or in the Southern Ocean on the way to Antarctica.

I went to Royal Caribbean's private island on a Celebrity cruise ship. Here's what surprised me about this visit - Royal Caribbean Blog

I went to Royal Caribbean's private island on a Celebrity cruise ship. Here's what surprised me about this visit.

Posted: Mon, 22 Apr 2024 19:02:40 GMT [source]

While a smaller cruise ship is indeed smaller in size, fewer passengers mean fewer people to deal with overall. Some people prefer to be on small vessels rather than larger ones which often are compared to small cities at sea. Let’s look at the top reasons the world’s smallest cruise ship may appeal to people. The ship hoists its sails and navigates by the wind as much as possible on each cruise, giving cruisers a unique, environmentally responsible experience not typically available on cruise ships. Celebrity Xploration sets sail in the Galapagos Islands, where you can see Los Lobos and Kicker Rock.

Royal Clipper named Best Small Cruise Ship

Expedition cruises, exploring the likes of northwest Africa and Polynesia, vow to get you even closer to wildlife. Instead you can expect educational talks and classical compositions from its resident musicians. One customer praised the ‘personal and friendly care and attention’ from staff. Recommended Provider Noble Caledonia clinched the full five stars for its customer service in our survey.

Spas, fitness centers and swimming pools are available on select ships, all featuring regional cuisine, theater shows and other onboard entertainment. The line’s four ships all carry around 2,00 passengers, making them a bit larger than other ships on this list, but the exceptional service means you won’t notice a few extra people. The focus is on sophisticated and cultured voyages, making it one of the best cruises for seniors. One of the most significant advantages of smaller cruise ships versus much larger ones is that they can more easily visit remote areas and hidden gem destinations. When there are 3,000-plus passengers onboard, you may have trouble relaxing by the pool or feel a little crowded at dinner.

Complimentary Wi-Fi, a fitness room, a grand dining room, a sun deck, and a putting green are some of the many amenities available. The 100-passenger Emerald Azzurra, an ocean-sailing yacht from Emerald Cruises, is small enough to tuck into small ports, so passengers can be in town straight away when docked. Cruisers appreciate the beautiful infinity pool, sun decks and water toys, like kayaks and snorkeling equipment that lend a private yacht vibe. Expect Mediterranean-inspired cuisine, generously poured wine at lunch and dinner and a nicer price tag for a cruise on the Azzurra than on comparable ships.

With Ponant's French pedigree, it's not surprising that food is a cut above, especially the desserts, cheeses and wine. Enhance your evening with complimentary wine (mostly French), Charles Heidsieck Champagne, beer and spirits. Fares include everything from wine, beer and spirits to daily excursions. In a world where gigantic megaships draw all the attention, I've always found small ships to be the best. Our mission is to serve the 50+ traveler who's ready to cross a few items off their bucket list.